Method of blocking strip metal.



W. R. CLARK.

METHOD OF BLOCKING STR'IP METAL;

APPLICATION FILED AUG.20.1914.

1,258,091, Patented Mar. 5, 191& I

WITNESSES: I/VI/EN TOR 'srrn n sTA WALTER R. CLARK, F IBZBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGN OR T0 BRIDGEPORT BRAS S COMPANY, OF IBRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

METHOD OF BLOCKING STRIP METAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 20, 1914. Serial No. 857,767.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER R. CLARK, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Bridgeport, county of Fairfield', and State of Connecticut, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Methods of Blocking Strip Metal, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In the use of reels, drums or so-called blocks for coiling sheet or strip metal as delivered from various machines such as rolling mills, cleaning machines, slitters, etc., it is desirable to feed the metal onto the block in a convenient and safe manner without stopping the machine or the block and without danger to the-operator. The ordi-.

nary manual blocking or coiling at rather slow speeds, where the end of the strip, sheet I or other length of stock is bent by hand to bther forms.

start it around the rotating block, is not,

particularly dangerous, but where the strip is fed at a high. speed considerable skill is necessary, and moreover, the operation is accompanied by considerable hazard to life and limb; There are certain machines in use wherein a device in the nature of a removable envelop is placed around the block to automatically guide the strip, but such machines are quite complicated and expensive,

and furthermore, the fact that the envelop must be released and removed or opened before the coil can be removed, and in most cases, before the strip has wound many times around'the block, causes considerable loss of time and detracts from their usefulness.

The primary object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a simple, efiicient method of coiling a strip or other length of stock issuing fromvarolling mill or other machine, on a winding drum or block in a safe and expeditious manner.'

To this and other ends theinvention consists in the novel features and steps to'be hereinafter described'and claimed.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one 0d of blocking, but" the invenproved met 7 outwith apparatus of tion can be carried In the drawing- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of theapparatus, showing the initial stage I of the'blocking operation, and 2-,-5, in-i Patented Mar. 5,1918,

elusive, are similar views showing other stages of the operation.

The apparatus comprises a drum, reel or block A of any suitable form, together with which in practice may be operated from a suitable line shaft, motor or other prime mover (not shown). Moreover, I have not considered it necessary to illustrate the rolling mill or other machine from which the r strip-or other length of stock passes to'the block, but the strip itself is'shown at 4, and its direction of movement with respect to the block will be sutliciently clear.

In carrying out my invention the blocking operation is effected by bending the forwar end portion of the strip in a certain way around the block so as to form a curve which has a certain relation to the diameter of the block. Moreover, the block is driven at a certain definite speed relative to the normal-feed ofthe stock. More specifically, the forward end portion of the strip is formed'into acurve or coil which is normally of less radius than the block, and the block is locatedwithin this curve or coil in I such a manner as to open it up slightly when the forward extremity of the strip strikes or contacts with the block, thereby causing the forward end of the strip to hug the periphcessive convolutions or layers on the block ery of'the block quite closely and to movearound with the rotating block to lay suc as the rotation ofthe block'continues. Fur-- thermore the block is driven at an increased speed relative tothe normal feed of the strip, that is, the speedat which the'strip would normally emerge from the rolling mill or other machine,.so that, after the forward extremity ofthe strip has hugged the periphery of the block through a rotation of,s ay, approximately 450 degrees,-,unt11 such forward extremity is pinched by the next layer or convolution, the first layer or convolution is frictionall zclamped on the block ina veryfsecure, e ective way. Thus the ceiling of the stripontheblock is com-c menced and the block puts thestrip under the't'ension wh ch is necessary toiulfil th the knives of a slitter.

In the apparatus shown the curving or ceiling of the strip relative to the block is obtained by the use of what is known as a Y three-roll coiler, comprising the coiling rolls B, C and D. These rolls are located at a suitable distance from the periphery of the block, and preferably the block and the middle roll 13 of the coiler will be alined in a plane approximately perpendicular to the plane of passage of the strip from the rolling mill or other machine. The coiling rolls B, C and D will be adjusted relative to each other by suitable means (not shown) in order that'the required bend or set may be given to the metal passing through them These coiling rolls are adapted to curve the strip into contact with the rotating block by rolling pressure exerted on opposite surfaces of the strip at difi'erent points in the length thereof, which puts a bend or set in the strip before it reaches the block. As previously stated, the curve which is given to the strip has a radius smaller than that of the block, and in the apparatus shown the strip passing through the coiling rolls will form an upwardly directed curve eccentric to the block, and the forward extremity of the strip will strike the periphery of the block or drum on the side away from the discharge side of the rolling mill or other machine and say, approximately in horizontal alinement with its axis, as shown in Fig. 1. This expands the curve or coil to a certain'extent, and as the strip continues'to feed upwardly around the rotating block the free extremity of the strip hugs the block closely, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The block being larger 7 than the coil normally formed by the coiling rolls, expands the coil or curve in such a manner than the spring action of the strip causes the whole forward portion thereof to confd m closely to the 7 periphery of the block. Finally, the extremity of the strip, after hugging the block through a rotation" of,-say, approximatel 450 degreespasses into contact with the under surface of another portion of the strip fed upward from the coiling rolls. At this instant a layer of the strip is in close contact with the block throughout the circumference or periphery of the latter. When the forward extremity of the strip comes into contact with, and is confined by what might be termed the secend-layer of the coil, the first layer is frictionally clamped on the block, and'as the latter rotates at a higher surface speed than the strip it exerts a frictional pull upon the strip, which pulls it tight and exerts tension upon it in proportion to the tightness of the driving belt. As the rotation of the block and the feed of the strip continue further layers are laid on the block, in the customary manner. By comparing Figs. and 5 it will be seen how the increased surface speed of the block relative to the normal feed of the strip causes the strip to be pulled up in a straight line from the coiling rolls, instead of in a gradual curve, after the first layer has been formed. It will be apparent that the coiling rolls should be substantially in line with the block, that is, in the straight line of feed, so that said rolls curve the strip into contact with the periphery of the block in a direction substantially perpendicular to v end of'the strip will coil about the block,

and after several coils have been wound about the block, it will be obvious that the remaining part of the strip need not be curved by the rolls B, G and D, and that these rolls may be separated to permit the strip to pass freely therebetween as it is wound on the block.

It will be obvious that 1 do not limit myself to the coiling of metal in the form of sheets, because my method can be carried out in connection with stock issuing in various forms from various kinds of machines. Moreover, I do not limit myself to the precise procedure herein described, as various modifications may be adopted within the scope of the claims V Whit I claimis:

1; The method of blocking metal strips and the like, which comprises rotating a suitable drum or block and curving the strip into contact with the periphery of the drum or block on a curve of less radius than the block; substantially as described.

The method of blocking metal strips and the like, issuing from a rolling mill or other machine, which comprises rotating a suitable drum or block at a higher surface speed than the normal feed of the strip, and curving the forward end of the stripinto contact with the periphery of the rotating block on a curve of less radiu's than the block; substantially as described.

3. The methodof blocking metal strips and the like, issuing from a rolling mill or other machine, which comprises rotating a suitable drum or block at a higher surface speed than the normal feed of the strip, and

and the like, issuing from a rolling mill or other machine, which comprises rotating a suitable drum or block on the discharge side of the mill or other machine, and curving the strip upward into contact with the periphery of the block on the side away from the discharge side of the mill at a point in approximate'horizontal alinement with the axis of the block, and on a curveof less radius than the block, so that the curve in the strip is opened up by the block and the forward end of the strip'is carriedaround by the block to form the first and subsequent layers; substantially as described.

5. The method of blocking strips and the like, issuing from a rolling mill or other machine, which comprises rotating a suitable drum or-block on the discharge side of the mill or other machine, and curving the strip upwardinto contact with the periphery of the block "on the side away from the discharge side of the mill at a point in approximate horizontal alinement with the axis of v the block, and on a curve of less radius than the block, so that the curve in the strip is opened up vby the block and the forward end of the strip is carried around by the block to form the first and subsequent layers, and driving the block at a greater surface speed than the normal feed of the strip; substantially as described.

6. The method of blocking metal strips and the like, issuing from a rolling mill,

which consists in rotating'a suitable block and bending the forward end-portion of the strip .into contact with the periphery of the block at that side of the block which isopposite the discharge side of the mill, on a curve of less radius than the block, and contmumg the feed of the strip at such a speed that the forward end of the strip passes around with, and conforms to the block; substantially as described.

7. The method of blocking metal strips and the like, issuing from a rolling mill, which consists in rotating a suitable block and bending the forward end portion of the strip into contact with the periphery of the block at that side of the block which is opposlte the discharge side of the mill, on a curve of less radius than'the block, and continumg the feed of the strip at such a speed that the forward end of the strip passes around wlth, and conforms to the block, but". at a lower speed than the rotation of the block; substantially as described. 8. The method of blocking metal strips or the like, which comprises rotating a block, feeding the strip toward the block, and giv-' mg the strlp, before it reaches the block, a

bend or set on such a curve that its forward end strikes the block and moves around with the same; substantially as described.

9. The method of blocking metal strips or the like, which comprises rotating a block, producing, relative movement between the strip and the block so as to bring them into coiiperation with each other, and imparting to the strip, before it contacts with the block, a bend or set on such a curve that its forward end strikes the block and is opened up thereby so as to hug the same; substantially as described.

10. The method of blocking metal strips or the like, which comprises rotating a suitable drum or block, feeding the strip independently of the block,.imparting to the strip during the feeding movement a bend or set on such a curve as to form a layer about the block, clamping the end of the strip :between the layer and block and .continuing the feed of the metal and the rotation of the block until a plurality of layers have been wrapped on the block; substantially as described.

11. The method of blocking, which comprises rotating a suitable drum or block, feeding the strip toward the block, and giving the strip during the feeding movement such a bend or set as to curve a layer or conclamp the initial layer thereon; substantially as described.

12. The method of blocking metal strips and the like, which comprises rotating a suitable drum or block, curving the strip so that its forward extremity contacts with the "suitable drum or block, curving the strip into contact with the'periphery pf the drum or block on a curve of less radius than the o ution around and in close proximity to ,the block whereby subsequent layers will diameter of the block, and feeding the forward portion of the strip around the block while itf eonforms thereto; substantially as described.

14." The method of blocking metal strips and the like, which comprises rotating a suitable drum' or block, curving the strip into contact with the periphery of the drum or block on a curve of-less radius than the diameter of the block, and feeding the forward portion of thestrip around the block while it conforms thereto, but at a slower speed than the surface speed of the block; substantially as described.

15. The method of blocking, prisesfeedin the strip in a engthwise direction, sim taneously it an initial which com;

bend or set tending to form a coil, and interposing in the curve of the strip a block of greater radius than the initial curve of the strip so that the strip is opened up bythe block and caused to hug the latter closely; substantially as described.

16. lhe method of blocking metal strips or the like, which comprises coiling the striparound a rotating block by giving the strip a longitudinal coiling bend produced by exerting rolling pressure on opposite faces of I, the strip at difierent points in the length thereof, before it reaches the block,

17. The method of. blocking, which comprises curving a strip into embracing contact with a rotating block by rolling premure on answer 19. The method of blocking, which comprises feeding a strip, simultaneously giving it a permanent coiling set, and rotating a suitable block in the line of feed of the forward end of the bent strip about which the strip coils; substantially as described.

20. The method of blocking, which comprises feeding the stock lengthwise and simultaneously giving it a coiling set, inter-- posing a block in the curve of the stock so that the forward end of the stock will engage and move around with the block in snug engagement therewith until one or more layers are wrapped on the block, and rotating the block at such speed as to tension the stock; substantiallyas described.

v 21. The method of blocking, which comprises giving a positive coiling set to a length of moving material, and interposing a rotating block in the line of feed of the forward end of the bent material; substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on the 18th day of August 1914. WALTER R. CLARK. Witnesses: v

Cnn ronn W. LooKwoon, WILLIAM B. 

